Taking The Long Way Home

It's ironic that the veteran husband and wife, electric guitar and vocal duo opens their liner notes with the disclaimer, "When we began making this CD, we had no particular destination in mind." Yet as you listen, you may assume some cataclysmic losses and other spiritual events had occurred in the duo's lives to prompt such an outpouring. The collection ranks as one of their richest, most spiritual yet, and the muse of spontaneity seems to have prompted not only their usual blend of emotional voice and guitar pleasantries but lyrics that resonate alone as poetry. They start out playfully, with Tuck's muted, jumpy lines dancing behind Patti's chipper intonations about strolling with "no hustle, no bustle, just eazin..." After the softhearted ballad "Ready to Love" , Patti advises us to say "thank you" to everyone "'cause when they're gone you won't get another chance to say..." This thought of appreciating every moment for it might fade away informs the rest of the disc, from the carpe diem sentiment of "Take This Feeling" to the haunting elegy "Song for the Souls That Go Before" and "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet," which advises us in clever ways how to cultivate love so that it lasts forever. The lush, sentimental "Path to Peace" sums up this spiritual vibe perfectly. Patti is as always the dominant emotional force behind the duo, but Tuck lets us enjoy his plucky chops on the all-instrumental "Early Morning Music Box." Tuck and Patti are tremendously likeable, but their simple dual approach sometimes makes the songs blend into one another, despite variation in tone. So listen closely from track to track. That's the best way to ensure that you're getting the meaning behind the amazing lyrics.